stunt

¹ American  

[stuhnt] / stʌnt /

verb (used with object)

1. to stop, slow down, or hinder the growth or development of; dwarf.

   A harsh climate stunted the trees.

   Brutal treatment in childhood stunted his personality.

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noun

1. a stop or hindrance in growth or development.

2. arrested development.

3. a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.

4. Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.

stunt ² American  

[stuhnt] / stʌnt /

noun

1. a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat.

   an acrobatic stunt.

2. any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention.

   The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.

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verb (used without object)

1. to do a stunt or stunts.

2. Television Slang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.

verb (used with object)

1. to use in doing stunts.

   to stunt an airplane.

stunt ¹ British  

/ stʌnt /

noun

1. an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action

2. an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme

3. anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity

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verb

1. (intr) to perform a stunt or stunts

stunt ² British  

/ stʌnt /

verb

1. (tr) to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of stunting

2. a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted

Other Word Forms

• stunted
  adjective
• stuntedness
  noun
• stuntingly
  adverb
• stunty
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of stunt¹

First recorded in 1575–85; verb use of dialect stunt “dwarfed, stubborn”; cognate with Middle High German stunz, Old Norse stuttr “short”; akin to stint ¹

Origin of stunt²

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of stump ( def. ) (in the sense “challenge; dare”)

Explanation

To stunt is to slow or hinder. Some people say that drinking coffee will stunt your growth when you're a teenager — they worry that you won't grow any taller. Poor nutrition can stunt your growth, and bad soil will do the same for a plant — a lack of moisture or nutrients will stunt the development of your lettuce or tomatoes. Another meaning of stunt is a dangerous trick, the kind performed in an action movie or by planes in an air show. The root of "check the growth" is the Old English stunt, "short witted or foolish," while the "trick" kind of stunt comes from nineteenth century American college slang.

Example Sentences

The “Five-Dollar Day”—part publicity stunt, part ruthless business tactic—jump-started a consumer revolution that drove the U.S. economy to 20th-century global dominance and still powers it today.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Two US nationals have been arrested after one jumped into the enclosure of an internet-famous monkey at a Japanese zoo while the other filmed the stunt, police have said.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Now creators such as the sports stunt group Dude Perfect have their own studios.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

The workforce reduction does not seem like some “performative AI stunt in a bloated cost structure,” KeyBanc analysts say in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“Can’t...explain...” she sighed, throwing herself into an awkward embrace around Juan and his little stunt bike.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

Related Words

• antic
• feat
• sketch
• skit